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Since this year, September 9 has been declared by the United Nations as 'International Day for the Protection of Education against Attacks'. In 2019, the UN registered nearly 500 attacks against schools in various conflict zones.

On the occasion of World Humanitarian Day, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Development Cooperation Alexander De Croo and Minister of Foreign Affairs and Defense Philippe Goffin express their great appreciation for the important work of the humanitarian heroes on the ground. In total, Belgium is releasing 197 million euros in humanitarian funds this year, a historically high amount. This makes our country a particularly loyal and important humanitarian donor.

Exactly six years ago today, the United Nations (UN) General Assembly declared June 19 the International Day for the Elimination of Sexual Violence in Conflict. On this day the international community is reminded of its collective responsibility to continue to fight against rape, sexual slavery, forced marriages, certain forms of human trafficking and any other form of conflict related sexual violence. Belgium also calls for special attention to be paid to the women, men and children who survived such violence, and pays tribute to those who are committed to stopping it.

Today is the International Day of UN Peacekeepers. Minister of Foreign Affairs and Defense Philippe Goffin wishes to pay tribute to the more than 95,000 men and women who serve with dedication under the flag of the United Nations in the thirteen peacekeeping operations deployed around the world.

Today, it is exactly 30 years since the World Health Organization removed homosexuality from the list of mental illnesses. Since 2004, May 17th has been International Day against Homophobia, Biphobia and Transphobia (IDAHOBIT), a day on which sexual diversity is celebrated, but also a day to draw attention to discrimination and violence against the LGBTI community.

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Development Cooperation Alexander De Croo expresses his explicit support for the work carried out by the Red Cross on this International Red Cross Day. He would like to thank each member of the Movement for the partnership that has existed for years and for the mobilization during this coronavirus crisis. Our country is pledging 5 million euros in the fight against Covid-19 to the International Federation of the Red Cross.

On World Press Freedom Day, we celebrate the vital role played by a free press. Foreign Minister Philippe Goffin stresses that an independent and reliable press is an important indicator of a democratic and open society, which can only function properly when its citizens are well informed.

On this international mine awareness day, Belgium reaffirms its unfailing support for the fight against anti-personnel mines, indiscriminate weapons that still cause too many victims around the world today.

March 8 marks International Women's Rights Day. Minister of Foreign Affairs and Defence, Philippe Goffin, assures that Belgium continues to be actively involved worldwide for the protection and promotion of the rights of women and girls. On Friday, March 6, Minister Goffin reaffirmed this commitment by organising an event at the Egmont Palace entitled "The Ambassadors of Belgian Diversity", which highlights the importance of women's rights and diversity to a diverse audience of representatives from government, parliament, civil society, the private sector and some 50 ambassadors accredited in Brussels.

Belgium is putting the issue of children in armed conflict on the agenda of the United Nations Security Council, which our country presides over this month. February 12 is the “International Day against the Use of Child Soldiers”, and our country will use that symbolic day to issue a call to action. Minister of Foreign Affairs and Defense Philippe Goffin will chair the briefing at the UNSC on integrating child protection measures into peace processes. King Filip will address the UNSC on behalf of our country.